Report this comment
  • "As a muslim I must say I find the behaviour of many people in all of this so very hypocritical. We all have a dark side but the fact is that this young lady was doing a fantastic and thorough job in giving her students a education and the school authorities have backed her.

    I suspect a vicious witch-hunt as all too common as it is in the villages of the indian-continent where alot of these narrow-minded parents come from.

    Theres alot of imams and so-called religeous people who proclaim to be the most devout and pious people but in actual fact are the most hate-mongering, spiteful and hot-headed and bigoted human-beings.

    Atleast this young lady is doing a great job. Lets face it Im sure most the parents calling for her to be sacked all have half-naked Bollywood girls singing and dancing seductively beaming out of their televisions at home. Theres also alot of these very same parents who wouldent think twice in conning other people.

    This is a vicious with-hunt and it stinks"
  • This field is mandatory
  • This field is mandatory

  • Please note we will not accept reports with HTML tags or URLs in them.


  • Enter the above word in the box below

Please be fair, courteous and respectful to the views of others so we can build a vibrant community in a safe online environment. You are personal liable for your comments and action will be taken against anyone who offends, ridicules or posts malicious and damaging views. If you wish to complain, please contact us.

Blackburn woman quits school in gender row

10:50am Friday 12th June 2009 in News Photograph of the Author By Shuiab Khan

A SCHOOL administrator has quit her job after a malicious e-mail campaign claiming she is a man.

The Al-Islah Muslim Girl’s School, Audley Range, Blackburn, sent a letter to parents saying they had ‘irrefutable medical evidence’ Shifa Patel ‘was a female’ despite ‘concerns raised by parents’ over her gender.

But it said the school had reluctantly accepted her resignation due to the strain of the allegations.

Ms Patel said she hoped that, having provided ‘medical evidence’, the rumours would stop immediately.

Police had been called to the school after a group of around 15 angry people turned up and demanded the sacking of Ms Patel.

Ms Patel wears a hijab and full Jhaba (full length robe). The emails circulated among parents contained private photographs of Ms Patel with short hair and wearing a shirt and trousers.

It is believed the campaign was started after someone copied the pictures from a page on social networking site Facebook.

Ms Patel said: “The people who have done this have hurt me so badly. I will remember them at the moment before I die and and I never forgive those who did this to me.”

In some of the pictures Ms Patel is pictured alongside acting headteacher Fatima Patel.

Ms Fatima said: “It is very disconcerting that this has all happened during children’s exam time.

“When some parents approached me I said to them I will take the Quran in my hand and swear to tell the truth.

“But they were more concerned with getting a GP’s certificate for Shifa.

“What does that say about some people?

“This incident has affected me and Shifa and it will take a lot to get her confidence back.

“We must add that some parents have come and supported us.”

The Governing body also backed Ms Patel, saying her ‘unquestionable work ethic and professionalism’ had never been in doubt.

Sergeant John Rigby, of the minorities team at Lancashire Constabulary, said: “Police were called to the school after reports that people were trying to damage school doors.

“When we arrived a group of 10 to 15 people were outside the school.

"I must point out neither the school nor the mosque was raided.

“This is an entirely internal school matter and police were simply there to calm the situation down.”

Local Businesses

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree